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Documentary on National TV This Month
"This film really shows the challenges and risks firefighters face every day. You come away with a greater appreciation of what they do," said Bill O’Keefe, executive vice president of InterWest Insurance Services in Sacramento, Calif. "I enjoyed it thoroughly."
Bill was one of several thousand people — agents, Fireman's Fund employees and members of the fire service — who previewed "Into the Fire" last month at screenings across the country.
"Why do they do it?"
"Into the Fire" is an emotionally charged documentary, produced by Fireman's Fund and directed by an Academy Award®-winner, Bill Couturié. It airs nationally on the History Channel on Oct. 13 and Oct. 22. The film is an extension of the Fireman's Fund HeritageSMprogram and our commitment to raising awareness of the needs of the fire service.
The film asks the question "Why do they do it?" The answers come from across the country, from big-city engine companies to small-town volunteer departments, as firefighters tell their personal stories about the challenges they face.
Firefighters who have previewed the film are overwhelmingly positive about it. "Finally, someone has created a film that explains the very real risks we take every day and why we need community support, funding and understanding," said Deputy Chief Billy Goldfeder of the Loveland-Symmes (Ohio) Fire Department. "Thanks to Fireman's Fund for a superb gift and valuable tool to the fire service."
The film is also a vehicle to build our Fireman's Fund brand on a national level, as we link our name and corporate values to our active support of the firefighters who put their lives on the line every day to make our communities safer.
In conjunction with the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF), there will be benefit screenings and sales of themed items to raise funds to purchase equipment such as thermal imaging cameras for local fire departments. Sales of the DVD in 2007 will also support the equipment fund.
What You Can Do
The first thing you can do is watch the documentary and tell your colleagues and friends to watch it, too. We know that you'll come away with a stronger appreciation of your community firefighters.
We have produced an eCard that you can mail to customers to tell them about the documentary and to let them know that your agency supports the Fireman's Fund efforts to help make communities safer. This is a marketing opportunity for you, as well as Fireman's Fund. Your local Fireman's Fund representative can provide you with the cards.
If you are participating in Heritage RewardsSM and have built relationships with your local fire service, let them know about the upcoming air dates. They won't want to miss it.
In 2007 we will have copies of the film on DVD for agents to use in their communities. We will work directly with agents to maximize the value of this brand and marketing opportunity. In the meantime, if you would like to screen the film for your employees, talk to your local Fireman's Fund representative about how to arrange a screening.
The History Channel
"Into the Fire" airs this fall on the History Channel on Oct. 13 at 8:00 p.m. and Oct. 22 at 4:00 p.m. (one hour earlier in the Central Time Zone). Following each show, viewers will be given the opportunity to donate funds to the special NFFF fund to provide needed equipment to fire departments.
The world premiere of the film takes place in Los Angeles on Oct. 3. The event is also a fundraiser for the fire service. Additional fund-raising activities tied to the documentary are in the works.
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